Ep. 208: Intro to the Budget Crisis In Tacoma Public Schools

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EQ: What does Tacoma public school’s budget crisis reveal about the future of public education in underfunded communities?

In this episode, we get real about what’s going on in Tacoma’s schools — a growing budget crisis that’s forced layoffs, cuts to programs, and tough choices about where resources go. Rising administrative salaries, restrictive state funding, and declining enrollment have all played a role, putting pressure on a district already stretched thin. We discuss how policy decisions made years earlier and a heavy reliance on temporary COVID funding paved the way for today’s struggles, and what it signals for underfunded districts across the country. As a crucial June 26 budget meeting approaches, the future of education in Tacoma hangs in the balance — and the community’s voice is more important than ever.

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Ep. 93: IWL Crossing: Tacoma School Schedules and Teacher Respect; WTF TPS?!

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Over the last week Tacoma social media has been abuzz with concerns about a “new” classroom schedule for Tacoma Public Schools that is to go into effect on February 8. The schedule shows “in person” teaching in the afternoons and remote learning in the morning.

Why? Our COVID 19 numbers are far worse now than they were last March, and there are new variants that are even more contagious. Yes, everyone, especially teachers, students and parents, wants to get back to normal. But we need to do that safely. Can we safely return students to the classroom now?

Well, it turns out that the schedule showing “in person” class periods really means “eventually, when we return to in person teaching, it will be on this schedule, so let’s try this schedule out now even if it is disruptive and results in less actual class time with students.” In response, many teachers and parents are saying “WTF TPS?!!!”

In this joint episode of Crossing Division, Tacoma’s Talk Show, and Interchangeable White Ladies (IWL), Tacoma’s premier teaching and equity podcast, IWLs Hope Teague-Bowling and Megan Holyoke join Evelyn Lopez to talk about what’s going on in Tacoma School World. Why a schedule change now? Has the teachers’ union sold out its members? And what we can do about it? Listen and let us know what you think, and what should happen next!

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